February 06, 2015

Bonchon, a new Korean Wing Concept, plans to open in Lee Summit in Spring 2015

Tom Hughes, owner of Butcher Block Concepts in Overland Park, has announced plans to open Bonchon, a Korean fast-casual restaurant concept, in Lee’s Summit, Missouri this March or April.

It will be the first Kansas City-area location for the concept, says Julie Chung, assistant marketing manager for Bonchon Franchise LLC, although there are outlets on the East Coast, as well as the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.

“Bon Chon” is the Korean phrase for “original village,” or “home town.” The restaurant chain was founded in 2002 in Busan, South Korea. The first U.S. location opened in 2006 in New Jersey and the chain has grown to more than 23 locations.

Bonchon is most known for Korean-style fried chicken wings, drumsticks or strips. They develop their signature crispiness from a special double-frying method that makes the chicken extra crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Your choice of one or two Korean sauces gets hand-brushed onto the crispy chicken giving it an extra punch of flavor. Choose from soy garlic or spicy hot, or both.

The managing partner for Butcher Block Concepts, Hughes has a long restaurant background. He worked for many years for Kansas City’s own Jack Stack Barbecue and is looking forward to getting the word out about the new concept he’s bringing to the area.

Bonchon has won good press as it begins its expansion across the U.S. Kate Krader, restaurant editor for Food & Wine magazine, named Bonchon’s chicken wings as among in the U.S. in 2014.

She wrote, “This cult Korean wings spot features exquisitely crispy fried chicken that comes with a choice of glazes: soy garlic sauce, or spicy hot. This is one of the few places where both choices are equally delicious; so go for half and half.”